Ray Pride

While documentary is one of the great hopes of contemporary storytelling, not enough attention has yet been paid in the U.S. to traditions in other countries, whether the work of Danish veteran Jorgen Leth (whose latest, a collaboration with Lars Trier, "The Five Obstructions," is one of the best analyses of filmmaking practice I've ever seen) or an odd duck like Holland's Heddy Honigmann. A retrospective of eight of her works plays over the next few weekends at Facets, and they're all valuable. She's best known for "The Underground Orchestra," which follows several musicians in the Paris underground. Of the first two features, her haunting "Crazy," is a personal favorite. She weaves interviews with nine Dutch veterans of U.N. peacekeeping missions in Korea, Lebanon, Vietnam, Cambodia and Bosnia. When the emotions grow overpowering, Honigmann shifts to the interviewee listening to music that meant something to them during their tour of duty. It shouldn't work, but it does, and Seal's "Crazy" and the Guns 'n' Roses version of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" will never sound the same again. I was overwhelmed.

Honigmann's "Crazy" plays Saturday at Facets; "Mindshaows" on Sunday. The retrospective continues through November.

(2003-10-16)

Also by Ray Pride

Tip of the Week
Mark Decena's Sundance-developed, San Francisco-set meditation on the nature of attraction is a smart, sexy gem, a love letter to love, San Francisco, and a stranger's eyes across a warm barroom
(2003-10-08)

Thrill kill
"Kill Bill Vol. I" zooms along with the conviction of the true believer, but also suggests the hermetic world view of the truly foolish
(2003-10-08)

An imperfect world
Clint Eastwood's mournful chamber tragedy, "Mystic River," adapted by Brian Helgeland from a novel by Dennis Lehane, is that rare American movie steeped in grief, without resorting to some sort of comic relief
(2003-10-08)

Chicago International Film Festival
Highlights of the film fest's second week
(2003-10-08)

Short Runs
(2003-10-08)

Short Runs
(2003-10-02)

Chicago International Film Festival
(2003-10-02)

Back in Black
(2003-10-02)

World and enough time
(2003-10-02)

Moaning Lisa
(2003-10-02)

Tip of the Week
(2003-10-01)

Tip of the Week
(2003-09-25)

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